Here is my convention schedule for the next two months.

February 18th-20th, Boskone

I will be at Boskone from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon. Here are the panels and reading I will be doing:

Friday, 8 p.m., Welcome to Lovecraft’s World

Theodora Goss
Jack M. Haringa
John Langan (M)
Charles Stross

Considering the worldview of New England’s master of weirdness H. P. Lovecraft (1890-1937), fantasy writer Theodora Goss observes: “Lovecraft’s universe has turned out to be the place we actually inhabit. He tells us that our world operates by laws we do not understand. That the universe is larger than we know, and older, and that it does not care about us. He tells us that we can lose our humanity more easily than we imagine.” Discuss. (Cthulhu visual aids are optional.)

Saturday, 1 p.m., The Writer’s Child

Katherine Crighton
Theodora Goss
Jo Walton (M)
Jane Yolen

What’s it like for a writer to raise a kid? Our panel includes both writers and people who were (and are) writers’ children. Are the writer’s child-rearing methods, biases, or hopes different from those of other parents? How is a writer’s child different from a reader’s child? Stories will be told.

Saturday, 2 p.m., Writer vs. Copyeditor – Lovefest or Deathmatch?

Theodora Goss
Teresa Nielsen Hayden (M)
Jo Walton

Let’s discuss process and roles, how copyeditors can help, when they can go too far, points of contention, and more. Red pens may be flourished, but let’s hope not blood-red . . .

(Notice, by the way, that these first three panels are related to blog posts I wrote! I’m incredibly flattered to have given the Boskone scheduling folks some ideas.)

Saturday, 4 p.m., Fairy Tales into Fantasy

Greer Gilman
Theodora Goss (M)
Jack M. Haringa
Jane Yolen

A whole branch of fantasy literature is based on re-examining the assumptions of well-known fairy tales. Panelists discuss some of the best examples.

Sunday, 11 a.m., Mythpunk

Debra Doyle
Gregory Feeley
Greer Gilman
Theodora Goss
Michael Swanwick

Wikipedia says, “Described as a subgenre of mythic fiction, Catherynne M. Valente uses the term “mythpunk” to define a brand of speculative fiction which starts in folklore and myth and adds elements of postmodern fantastic techniques: urban fantasy, confessional poetry, nonlinear storytelling, linguistic calisthenics, worldbuilding, and academic fantasy. Writers whose works would fall under the mythpunk label are Valente, Ekaterina Sedia, Theodora Goss, and Sonya Taaffe.” And what do WE say?

(Well, I’ve already said quite a lot about this one, I think. And hey, who’s the moderator?)

Sunday, 1 p.m., A Child’s Garden of Dystopias – the Boom in Nasty Worlds for Children

Bruce Coville
Theodora Goss
Jack M. Haringa (M)
Kelly Link

Why do dystopias and YA literature seem to go together? Are YA dystopias more common now than previously? Are there differences between YA and adult dystopias – perhaps a different ratio of cynicism to hope? How does “if this goes on” fit in?

Sunday, 2:30 p.m., Reading: Theodora Goss (0.5 hrs)
Theodora Goss

(This is late in the day on Sunday, and I’m not sure anyone’s going to come. So come to my reading? And what would you like me to read? Any ideas?)

March 17th-19th, International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts

I believe I’m reading at this time:

Friday, March 18, 8:30‐10:00 a.m.

With the wonderful James Patrick Kelly and Rachel Swirsky.

(I had to ask for a last-minute change because of my flight schedule, but I think that’s the right time. Again, what should I read? I think that for the academics, I should read something from “Pug.” If I can’t read them a Jane Austen time travel story, who can I read it to?)

I’m particularly looking forward to ICFA because it’s going to be in Orlando, Florida, and I’ve already bought summer dresses to bring with me. And a swimsuit.

I know, I know, I’m supposed to be totally focused on professional networking and development. But it was below freezing here in Boston today. If I network, it’s going to be at the poolside bar. If there’s a poolside bar. All I can say is, there had better be.

(And there had better be umbrellas in the drinks, too. How can you have an academic conference without them?)